Players from all parts of the country made their way to Tinley Park for the Windy City Poker Championship and the World Poker Tour Boot Camp. This four-day event featured a televised $3K high roller sit-n-go and local celebrities Richard Roeper and Ron Magers were among those at the table.
Chris Moneymaker, who was in town to support Shady Oaks Camp and the American Legion Post 615, won the televised table almost a decade after winning the World Series of Poker Main Event. Entry into this year’s WSOP was part of the package awarded to Moneymaker.
HOLLYWOOD AURORA: The poker room recently concluded its inaugural Hollywood Poker Open. Players earned entry to satellites by playing 20 hours of live poker or from playing in tournaments, making this Illinois’ biggest freeroll. Players also had the option to buy in.
The players who made the final table won cash and a seat in the $500K guaranteed HPO Championship at the M Resort in Las Vegas. Jason Ramos, who started playing seriously two years ago, was heads-up with crafty veteran “Chicago” Mike Holm, who recently had a pair WSOPC runner-up finishes at Caesars Palace. And Holm came up short again as Ramos took home the winner’s trophy, $50,688 and an HPO seat at the M.
“Hollywood is excited to roll out this opportunity to give our poker players a chance not only to display their talents, but to get an exclusive experience at the national tournament taking place at our newest property in Vegas, the M Resort,” Hollywood vice president of marketing Doug Lima said. “This has been a massive undertaking involving all Penn properties, but a worthwhile endeavor as it works to showcase Hollywood’s-Penn’s dedication to manufacturing an experience tuned to each individual poker player’s needs.”
BLUE CHIP CASINO: The $1-$2 no-limit hold’em game has changed to $1-$3 with a $100-$300 min-max buy-in.
HORSESHOE HAMMOND: Traditionally the Horseshoe’s $500 buy-in tournament offers the largest monthly prize pool in the Midwest. May’s event generated $107K. Matt “Mark” Buczkiewicz came out on top, winning $23K.
“I’ve worked so hard to reach this level,” he said. “It feels great to finally accomplish this goal.”
Buczkiewicz planned to enter the WSOP main with part of the winnings.
— “Chicago” Joe Giertuga is Ante Up’s Chicagoland Ambassador. Email him at chicago.joe@comcast.net.
